Introduction

For this 25^th Anniversary Edition of Donald B. Kraybill’s The Upside-Down Kingdom, the author requested that a study guide be written for teachers or leaders to use in planning Sunday school lessons or small group sessions around the text. This study guide is designed not as a rigid lesson plan, but one that serves as an outline for inspiring discussion of the text. The study guide is divided into four sections for each chapter: Gathering, Sharing, Listening & Reflecting, and Sending. Each lesson follows basically the same form. As leader of the sessions, make sure to read Kraybill’s "Guide for Discussion Leaders" on pages 263-264 of The Upside-Down Kingdom before making your first lesson plans.

The basic outline of the lessons can be adjusted according to your tastes and the preference of the class. All of the lesson guides begin and end with prayer. Although they are included, you need not feel obligated to use them. Also, each lesson includes reading a parable. Because this course is about understanding the upside-down reign of God, the parables serve as pictures exemplifying God’s reign. The titles of the parables are from the New International Version of the Bible.

Kraybill included his own questions for discussion that are excellent for use in a classroom or small group. While this study guide is designed to enhance Kraybill’s text, it also incorporates the discussion questions into the study guides for each chapter. There are a number of discussion prompts in the lessons. Feel free to use your own discussion questions or base the discussion around class members’ questions. To better facilitate the discussion, have your group come to class with a list of questions and thoughts from the reading.

It is important that class or small group members come to the sessions already having read the chapters. Some review is incorporated into the lessons, but most of the time should be devoted to discussion. Encourage the group to do the reading ahead of time. Chapter lengths vary, but the reading should take no more than 30-60 minutes. Also, there is some reading aloud during class. You can judge whether or not the group members are comfortable reading aloud. The safest route is to ask for a volunteer to do the reading.

Remember that this study guide is just an outline. Depending on the personalities of your group you may follow this outline closely or loosely. Above all, get into The Upside-Down Kingdom and engage yourselves in lively conversation and discussion!